Jobaria

dinosaur · sauropod · Africa · Jurassic

Truly giant creature. Jobaria was a sauropod, meaning it had an incredibly long neck, a huge body, and a tiny head compared to its size. It was one of the longest animals ever to walk on Earth.

African desert dweller. This dinosaur lived in what is now Niger, in northern Africa, during the middle Jurassic Period between 164 and 161 million years ago. Back then, that area had rivers and forests, not the dry desert it is today.

Recently discovered. Scientists found the only known Jobaria fossils in 1997 in a rock formation called the Tiouraren. It is the only sauropod we know of from that specific place and time.

Gentle plant eater. Like all sauropods, Jobaria used its long neck to reach leaves high up in trees that other dinosaurs could not access. Its small teeth were perfect for stripping leaves but not for chewing.